Catholic Highlights in Spain

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Toledo

Bienvenidos a España! Upon arrival in Madrid, meet your ACIS Tour Manager and drive a short distance to Toledo. The home of renowned painter El Greco, the city's history and culture reflects a fascinating blend of Christian, Islamic and Jewish influences.

Day 3: Toledo

Today's activities will center on a guided tour of this old Visigothic capital. With an expert local guide, explore some of the city's most sacred landmarks, including the Medieval Synagogue; the Church of Santo Tomé, home of El Greco's masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz; and a complete tour of the treasures of the Toledo Cathedral. The structure is considered one of Europe's finest examples of medieval Spanish Gothic architecture and the sacristy showcases paintings by Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. In the afternoon, you'll visit the imposing Franciscan Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, built in the 1400s by King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I, known as the Catholic Monarchs.

Day 4: Granada

Journey to beautiful Granada, situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains and home to Europe's greatest Moorish legacy. Upon arrival, visit the Granada Cathedral. Built by Queen Isabella in the early 1500s, it's an awe-inspiring example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Tonight you'll learn one of Spain's most enduring traditions, flamenco dancing, at a unique venue where Andalusian culture comes alive—Granada's Plaza de Toros. An expert teaches you the moves for this intense and impassioned dance that's based on Andalusian folkloric traditions during your flamenco lesson before you enjoy a special dinner. Then get swept up by the passion and skill of your professional instructors during a flamenco show. After, take a winding evening stroll with your tour manager through the old Medieval Moorish streets of the Albaicín neighborhood, and cap off your day with stunning views from Mirador de San Nicolás.

Day 5: Seville

The morning starts with a sightseeing tour of the world-famous Alhambra, including the fragrant Generalife Gardens, led by a local guide. You'll marvel at this sprawling palace and fortress, considered one of the greatest feats of Moorish art and architecture. It was here that Christopher Columbus received Queen Isabella's endorsement for his world-changing expedition. Later, you'll head for Seville, the capital of Spain's Andalucía region.

Day 6: Seville

Begin the day with a guided tour of Seville, led by a local expert. You'll visit the city's immense Gothic Cathedral, which houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. It also features the grand 342-foot-tall Giralda Tower, which offers panoramic views of the city. The Moors built the tower as a minaret for a mosque, but Christian rulers later converted it into a Renaissance-style bell tower—an example of the city's role as a religious crossroads and battleground through the centuries. In the afternoon channel your inner artisan during a Spanish fan painting workshop, led by an expert instructor from the Escuela de Bellas Artes. In the evening, you'll stroll through the old section of the city, walking past the unusual Torre de Oro, a dodecagonal military watchtower built in the 1200s, and into the Parque María Luisa, a gorgeous park that stretches along the serene Guadalquivir River.

Day 7: Madrid

Drive north to Guadalupe this morning, where you'll visit the magnificent Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important religious destinations in Spain. According to legend this spiritual center stands on the spot where a shepherd found a buried statue of the Virgin Mary, apparently hidden by residents from Moorish invasion hundreds of years earlier. The Monastery symbolizes two significant events that occurred in 1492—the end of Muslim influence on the Iberian Peninsula and the discovery of the American continent by Christopher Columbus—and its famous statue became a powerful symbol of the Christianization of the New World. Then you'll travel to Madrid, Spain's elegant central capital.

Day 8: Madrid

Madrid's rich heritage comes alive on a guided morning walking tour that showcases classic Spanish boulevards, grand plazas and the diverse architecture of modern-day Madrid. Highlights include the Teatro Real Opera House, Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Neptune Fountain. You'll also go inside the magnificent Prado (skipping the lines with a timed reservation), one of the world's premier art museums. Here an expert will provide illuminating commentary about the artwork of Velázquez, Goya, Raphael, Rubens and Bosch. Even the 18th-century neo-classical building that houses the collection is stunning. In the afternoon you'll have free time to explore more of the city at your own pace. Perhaps immerse yourself in sites that reflect the city's rich religious heritage, such as the stunning Almudena Cathedral.

Day 9: Madrid

A full-day excursion begins with a morning trip to Ávila, a walled city with centuries-old cobblestone streets. Here you'll visit the revered and fortress-like Ávila Cathedral, one of Spain's first Gothic cathedrals, and the Convent of Santa Teresa de Jesus, which honors Saint Teresa, who worked with St. John of the Cross to reform the Carmelite orders. Then you'll travel to El Escorial to visit the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Also a World Heritage Site, King Philip II had the great building complex constructed to serve a place for his father, Holy Roman emperor Charles V, and future Spanish monarchs to be interred, as well as a Hieronymite monastery and a palace. Return to Madrid in time for dinner and your final evening in Spain.

Day 10: Departure

Depart for the USA.